Reaction type sprinklers



Nov. 6, 1956 D. L. SPENDER REACTION TYPE SPRINKLERS Filed July 22, 1954 INVENTOR '1 Donald L. S en der .1, ATTORNEY REACTION TYPE SPRINKLERS Donald L. Spender, Wolcott, Cnn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application July 22, 1954, Serial No. 445,100

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-69) This invention relates to lawn sprinklers and more particularly to a sprinkler of the reaction type in which the nozzles can be adjusted for varying the size of the area to be sprinkled.

For several years there has been on the market a sprinkler having a pair of inclined tubular nozzles which are turned on their own axes by a center control knob so as to change the angles of the jet deliveries. This accomplishes a variation in the range of water distribution from a low limit of a five to ten foot circle to a maximum of a fifty foot circle. Such sprinklers have the greatdisadvantage that the rate of flow of water is the same whether the sprinkler is adjusted for a small area or a large area. Attempts to solve the problem in this type of sprinkler by valving off certain openings at the lower ranges have heretofore been entirely unsuccessful.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved sprinkler of the tubular nozzle type which will vary the amount of water delivered approximately in proportion to the variation in area of coverage provided by the area adjusting control.

In my improved sprinkler the nozzles are fixed to the head so that the angles of jet deliveries are not changed. The nozzles are provided with a series of orifices, the smaller of water are arranged to provide restricted deliv ery of water but maximum reaction effect so that the sprinkler head is turned at high speed for the smaller ranges. As the setting is increased for larger ranges other orifices come into play for higher angles of jet delivery and lesser reaction effect. In fact, the larger orifices, which are open along with all of the others at the maximum range setting preferably have no reaction effect. However, the reaction effect of the smaller orifices when the setting is maximum is greatly lessened because the water flowing through the larger openings will relieve the pressure from the smaller openings which are preferably at the outer ends of the nozzles. This accomplishes the desired slower rotating speed when the sprinkler is set for the maximum range.

More particularly this invention contemplates a sprinkler with a rotary head supporting a pair of downwardly inclined tubular nozzles. Since the nozzles themselves are stationary relative to the head, my improved sprinkler provides movable valve means inside the nozzles for controlling the orifices as desired. This preferably takes the form of tube-like valve members which are connected to a common means inside the head adjustable by a knob or the like on the outside of the head. This feature pre sents a real problem because of the detrimental effect of corrosion, dirt and the like, which tends to cause jamming of any valve member inside the metal tubular nozzle.

According to my invention I employ a novel tubular member, preferably of nylon, or at any rate a material having the essential characteristics of nylon. This member is formed in such a way that it has always a nice fit against the wall of the nozzle and it has the advantage that it is comparatively free from the possibility of gelling or seizing on the mating member under water-lubricated operation, and also has a low coeflicient of friction under such conditions.

The full nature of this invention, along with other objects and various advantages thereof, will be more apparent from a consideration of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the rotary head of a sprinkler unit.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same showing the cap and control knob omitted.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cap and control knob.

Fig. 4 is a layout view showing the relative position of the discharge ports in one of the arms and also schematically showing the relative position of the valving openings in two different settings, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the arms, the view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with the nozzle set to cover a 20 foot circle.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 10 designates a standard in the form of a hollow upright that may be mounted on any suitable base not shown. On the upper end of the standard is mounted a rotary head 11 adapted to spin about the vertical axis of the standard 10. For this purpose the head 11 is screw threaded to a hollow spindle 12 having bearing engagement in a bushing 13 fitted into the upper hollow portion of the standard 10. Between the flanged inner ends 12a and 13a of the spindle 12 and bushing 13, respectively, is interposed a sealing and thrust washer 14. The head 10 may be locked to the threaded end of the spindle 12 as by a lock nut 15.

Mounted on the head 11 is a pair of tubular nozzle arms 16 having their axes arranged at an angle of approximately 40 to the vertical axis of the spindle. The nozzle arms 16 cause rotation of the head by reason of the reaction forces of the water passing through jet orifices or ports in the nozzle arms as will be fully explained later. Since both nozzle arms are of the same construction, it will be considered sufficient to describe only one in detail. Specifically each nozzle arm consists of an outer tube 17 and a tube support sleeve 19. The rotary head is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed embossments 20 each having a double diameter bore 21 into which is fitted the nozzle arms 16. The outer tube 17 may be secured to the support sleeve 19 as by soldering. The support sleeve 19 in turn is formed with a reduced neck 22 that fits into the larger diameter of said bore 21 and held thereinplace by a set screw 23. The set screw 23 is made accessible through a large recess 24 in the bottom of the rotary head 11 and into which recess is received the upper end of the standard 10. The lower end of the outer tube 17 is closed by a screw plug 25 threaded into the end of said tube and may be removed if desired for cleaning out the nozzle arms.

The manner in which I obtain a uniform and proportionate distribution of water over large and small areas is determined by the position and character of the several discharge ports or jet orifices in the nozzle arms and the manner in which these are selectively closed off by an interior valve member. The relative arrangement and position of the discharge ports in relation to a vertical plane passing through the axes of the nozzle arms and the head, is generally to lie in the path of a long drawn out helix scribed on the surface of the arm tube 17. Specifically there are seven ports in the outer tube 17, the two lower ones 26 are identical in size and are angled the farthest away from the vertical plane of the arms, preferably about from the vertical. The ports 26 are the reaction ports that serve to produce the maximum driving force for rotating the head and are intended to cover'the smallest area to'be sprinkled, namely, 5 feet. Preferably the outertube is 'dimpled 'or'angle'd inwardly in the area around the ports '26 as at 26a so that the ports 26 are angled toward eachother for the purpose of,producin'gafan sprayto the water discharging through said ports. "The 'otherp'orts '27, 28, 29,30 and"31 tare positioned upwardly of the outer tube and progressively?approach' closer to the vertical plane, theaxeso'fthe last.

two 'ports lying in'said vertical plane, and thus producing no reaction effect.

The valve member is preferably in the form of an inner tube 18 made of a suitable plastic material such as nylon and heme cylindrical bore 32 that is eccentric to theouter diameter of said tube, and the innerya'lve'member is so positionedwithin' the outer tubethat the thicker portion of said valve member wall will be normally in the uppermost position. A series of circumferential openings or slots-27', '28', 29','30' and 31' areformed in the thicker wall of the inner tube 18 and line up respectively with the'ports 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the outer tube. The valve member 18 does not extendthe full lengthof the outer tube and therefore does not many way affect'the lowerports 26. The upper end of the valve member is formed with an enlargement that is rotatably engaged in the smaller diameter of the bore'21 in head embossment and provides a shoulder 33 engaging the end of the outer tube 17 to properly align the slots '27'31' with respect to the ports 27-31 inclusive, in the outer tube. In the thinner portion of the valve tube18 opposite the slots' 27-'31' a longitudinal slot 18a is provided that ext'ends along that portionof the tube 18 that serves to valve the port openings 27'31 in the outer tube 17. The slot 18a provides for a greater flexibility of the valve tube 18 and allows it to fit into the outer tube with a resiliently snug fit. Furthermore, water pressures in the valve tube 18 -'willexert a ra'dialforce on said tube to increase its sealing effect within the outer tube 17.

Three of the ports 29, and 31 in the outer tube are registered with three ports 29", 30" and 31""in the support sleeve 19. It is to be noted that the wall thickness of the support sleeve 19 is considerably greater than the wall thickness of the outer tube 17 and that the ports 29", 30" and 31 are of-a tapering form with the smaller diameter at the discharge end of said ports. This is for the purpose of providing a better stream effect to the water issuing from these particular discharge ports and serves to project the stream of water farther than'would be the-case if the ports'were merely pierced through the outer tube 17 In order-to manually control the operation of the inner valve tubes18, the upper'ends of the latter are provided with-collars 37 having flattened sides38 and over which collars are slipped sector gears 39 having complementary shaped openings to fit the collars 37 so as to prevent relatrve rotation. to the inner end of a spindle 41 rotatably mounted in a tubular sleeve 42 depending from and formed as an integral part of a cap'43that serves to close oifthe upper open end of the rotary head 11. Specifically the pinion is anchored to the spindle 41 by having one end abutted against a metal washer44, the latter in turn seated against a shoulder 45 on spindle 41, the outer end of: the spindle being riveted over against the pinion 49 as indicated at 46 to hold the parts together asa unit. A sealing washer 47 is interposed between the metal washer 44 and the end of the tubular sleeve 42.

The upper end of the head 11 is formed with a stepped seat 48-and the cap 43 likewiseis formed with a comparable seat 49 between which is compressed a sealing washer 50. The cap-43 is held upon the head 11 by a pair-of screws 51 having theirheads seatedin suitable recesses in the cap 43 and their shanks threadedinto tapped holes 52 formed in embossments' 53 projecting inwardly from the head 11.

To adjust the inner valvetubes-lfi relativetothenoz- Gears 39 are driven by apinion 40 secured zle arms 16, a control knob 54 is non-rotatably secured to'the'Spindle "41by'means of an insertbushingS'S "having a drive fit upon a knurled section 41:: of spindle 41. A knob 54 is held against axial displacement from the end of the spindle 41 by a screw 56 threaded into the end of said spindle. A friction washer 57 is interposed between the control knobf'5'4zand the base of a recess 58 formed in the upper surface of the .capand serving to impart a frictional effect to the turning of the knob 54, :and also cause the pinion-washer-M always toseat tightly against the sealing washer '47. "IH'OIdCI'TtOBBt the sprinkler to the particular sizes of'the' area that'one desires-to sprinkle, the upper conical surface of the cap 43 is provided with suitable in'dicia and the' knob "54 may be formed with a pointer. that maybe. registered with the indicia to the area desired.

A more complete description of the relative position of the elongated openings 27 .31 of the inner tube 18. to the openings.'2731 of the outer tube will now be,given. First, it is to be noted that the lower openings26- which serve to cover the space area of aboutS feet are never closed by the valve tube 18. The relative positioniof the ports and shut-off openings is diagrammatically shown in Fig.4 and the position of the valve tube openings '2731"relative to the outer tube ports 27-31" for a setting'of a '20 foot diameter coverage is represented by dotted'outline for the openings 2731'. This setting shows'that'the slots 27 and 28 are positioned'to open the '10 foot and 20 foot-ports 27 and '28 respectively, while'the' 3-0, 4-0 andfoot ports '29, 30 and 31are stillclosed. As the larger areas 30 and 40 feet are required to'besprinkled theinner tube obviously can be turned so that the slots 29 and'30 align with the outer tube ports 29 and 30. The 50 foot diameter settingis diagrammatically shown by dot and dash outlines in'Fig. 4'for the '0penings-27'31" respectively, and in this setting it is to be noted that all the ports 2631 in the outer tube 17 are open.

While the form of the invention herewith shown and described embraces a preferred embodiment of-the same, it is to be understood that the construction may be varied as to mechanical details without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

I claim:

l. A sprinkler having a head mounted to rotate-about a vertical-axis, tubular nozzles fixedly mounted on the head at opposite sides of said axis, each nozzle arrangedso that its longitudinal axis is in acute angle relation to said verticalaxis, a series of orifices of diiferent size in each nozzle spaced lengthwise of the nozzle and arranged in differing angular relation about the nozzle axis, the angle of'elevation of the larger of said orifices being such as -to provide a maximum range of jet delivery, while the angle of elevation'of the other orifices is progressively smaller to provide progressively lower ranges of jet delivery,.the larger of said orifices being in substantially-a vertical plane passing through the axes of the head and-nozzle and V the others of said orifices beingarranged at progressively larger augles aboutthe nozzle axis to one side of said plane as they diminish in size, and control means inside said tubular nozzle for progressively opening or closing said orifices to control the range of water distribution.

2. A'sprinkler asdefined in claim 1 wherein the control meanstinsideeach 'of said nozzles is a tube-like valve member fitting closely inside the nozzle and being rotatable about the axis of the nozzle, said member having ports arranged to open or close said orifices.

3. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said tube-like valve members consists of nylon and having a smooth outer surface in contact with the inner wall of.- the nozzle.

- 4. A sprinkleras definedin-claim2 wherein said tubelike valve member is made of nylon'and isslotted for. a portion'of its lengthto providefor. a springy contactbetweenthe valve and. nozzle.

5. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve member has a lengthwise extending hole therethrough which is eccentric to the nozzle whereby the wall of the valve member is thicker on one side than on the other, and wherein the ports in the valve member are arranged in said thicker portion.

6. A sprinkler having a head mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, tubular nozzles projecting outwardly from said head and fixed against rotation relative to the head, a series of orifices arranged along the length of each nozzle and having differing characteristics as to the range and angle of jets delivered therefrom, valve means in each of said nozzles for selectively opening or closing various of said orifices, and a manually operable valve control member mounted externally of said head and having an operating connection to said valve means.

7. A sprinkler having a head mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, tubular nozzles projecting outwardly from said head and fixed against rotation relative to the head, a series of orifices arranged along the length of each nozzle and having differing characteristics as to the range and angle of jets delivered therefrom, a tube-like valve member fitting inside each of said nozzles and being rotatable about the axis of said nozzle, said valve member having ports adapted to be brought selectively into registry with the orifies in said nozzle, and manually operable means for controlling the angular position of said valve members in said nozzles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 935,071 Vossler Sept. 28, 1909 960,393 Peters June 7, 1910 1,677,485 Nelson July 17, 1928 2,335,332 Wright Nov. 30, 1943 2,591,073 Jepson Apr. 1, 1952 2,596,577 McBride May 13, 1952 2,619,381 Jepson Nov. 25, 1952 2,641,278 Eplett June 9, 1953 2,678,845 Fitter May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,550 Australia Aug. 19, 1948 

